Two professional athletes who came out as gay within the last year -- NBA free agent Jason Collins and the Galaxy's Robbie Rogers -- both say Sam consulted with them before making his announcement. Both of them have been offering their support ever since.

Although some speculate that Sam's sexual orientation could negatively his draft impact status as well as the culture in whatever locker room he ends up in, the SEC's leading tackler seems to have received generally positive reactions from all over the league, including from some legendary players and the current Super Bowl MVP.

I appreciate the courage of @michaelsamfootball , now I pray the NFL world reflects that same courage & treats him like the athlete he is!

According to multiple media reports, Richie Incognito, the Miami Dolphins guard who was suspended much of last season following allegations of bullying and harassment, tweeted this uplifting message Sunday night: "@MikeSamFootball #respect bro. It takes guts to do what you did. I wish u nothing but the best."

That tweet apparently has since been deleted from Incognito's Twitter feed.